To compare body fat to lean body mass percentage at baseline with that at radiotherapy treatment end.

To correlate energy and protein consumption with lean body mass at baseline and treatment end.

To determine the change in appetite throughout radiotherapy by comparing data obtained by interview at baseline and radiotherapy treatment end.

To determine the change in performance level (Karnofsky percentage) associated with the radiotherapy through a series of questions asked at baseline and treatment end.

OUTLINE: Patients receive radiotherapy as planned for 7 weeks. Patients undergo an interview on treatment day 1 (before initiation of radiotherapy) and treatment day 35 (after completion of radiotherapy) regarding recent food consumption history and appetite. Patients' standing weight and height are measured on these days and their body composition, measured with a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device, are also taken. Patients' Karnofsky performance score are obtained from their medical record.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

50 Years to 75 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Sampling Method:

Probability Sample

Study Population

Primary care center

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Diagnosed with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Plan to begin radiotherapy for NSCLC

Radiotherapy is the only planned therapy for this cancer

No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

Must be able to stand without assistance

Exclusion criteria:

Unable to comply with study requirements

Native language other than American English

Pacemaker or implanted defibrillator

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Exclusion criteria:

Receiving chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy

Concurrent megace or steroids

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00530205